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Friday, November 30, 2012

When a Six saved Kale's life the night of Sumrun, she warned there would be consequences. A trade-off. Something taken for the life they gained. But Dez never imagined she'd lose the one thing she'd give anything to keep... And as if it's not enough Dez finds her immunity to Kale fading, the Six brought in to help Kale learn to control his killer touch starts drooling on him the moment they meet. Worse than that? Jade can touch Kale. But bimbo Barbie is the least of Dez's problems.

After Dez and Kale got away at Sumrun, her father lost not only his most powerful weapon but an important piece of the Supremacy project. Forced by Denazen to remedy the situation, he poisons Dez and offers her a choice--surrender to Denazen for the cure...or die. Determined to find a solution that doesn't involve being bagged and tagged--or losing someone she loves--Dez keeps the poison a secret. But when a rash of Denazen attacks hit a little too close to home, Dez is convinced there's a traitor among them. Jade.

Sacrifices, broken promises, and secrets. Dez will have to lay it all on the line if there's any hope of proving Jade's guilt before they all end up Residents of Denazen. Or worse, dead...

My Review:

This is the second book of the Denazen series, the first novel being Touch, which I loved. There is actually a novella taking place between books called Untouched, which I recommend, because what happened in that novella is referred to in Toxic, and although you don't have to have read it, it'll help you understand things even better. Plus, Untouched is from Kale's POV, so it is extra special.

Toxic starts out with a bang with the whole terrifying crane scene and Dez finally finding out the consequences for her actions for saving Kale before. The main drama of the novel is two-fold. One, Denazen is trying to capture Dez and Kale as usual, but their methods this time around are very different (I won't spoil it for you). Dez's father's cryptic behavior leaves Dez questioning the truth in his propositions as well as considering there may me a spy among the other Sixes. Two, Jade is introduced as the one who is going to help Kale control his gift, so while Dez can barely touch Kale, Jade is all over him, making Dez realize she may have a jealous side and question if she can still be with Kale.

Honestly, Dez is a little crazy for me sometimes, a little rash, a little over-the-edge. Perhaps its her authority issues, her daddy issues, whatever. But at the start of Toxic she's the same crazy Dez we expect and love. Fast forward through the novel, and Dez becomes a bit of a mess. She admittedly behaves very un-Dez-like, keeping secrets and being jealous (for obvious reasons). She's dealing with the obvious Jade issues, but also her own secret issues. I enjoyed reading about her struggles to a degree, but then found myself wanting to snap her out-of-it and get her to open up to Kale. She had her reasons, claiming to be protecting Kale, but it got to be a bit much at times.

Kale, on the other hand, is still the same "innocent" death machine that I loved in Touch. I love that he's a straight-shooter and speaks his mind, doesn't lie, and loves Dez with all his heart. But he's been in the "real world" for months now with Dez, so when she suddenly has a personality transplant and Jade is all over him like white on rice, I think he could have taken a few more extra steps and dug a little deeper with Dez, maybe removed the velcro grip Jade had on him once in a while, because he obviously knew something was up with Dez. He can't be a parkour ninja without some mad observation skills. Plus, I understand his reasoning with what he did toward the end of the book, but I hope he learned his lesson that that behavior should not be considered or excused again. He can't claim naivete forever.

Jade is an annoying, leeching, piece-of-work. I don't entirely trust Ginger or her reasons for doing things, especially as she claims to not interfere with the future even though she can see it. So I'm very curious about where Ginger found Jade, where Jade's storyline will go, and if helping Kale is her true purpose, or if there's something else there, like her ridiculous attempts to lure Kale in. Many questions.

Alex also plays an interesting role in the story. I have mixed feelings about him, partially not trusting him due to his past actions, partially feeling bad for him that he messed up so bad. The tension between Kale and Alex is actually a lot of fun. But, Ginger's little prediction about Alex isn't exactly encouraging.

Kiernan, Able, Aubrey, Dax, Ginger, Shanna, and Cross, among others, all play very exciting roles in the storyline. I liked the twists, turns, and surprises. I liked that not everything was predictable, despite my many attempts to guess what would happen next. Plus, Jus announced that books 4 and 5 for the series ave been sold, so there will ne much more Dez and Kale to look forward to.

4 STARS

Memorable Quotes:

She might be impervious to harm, but she still might feel pain.

Slamming her face through the furniture might ease some of the tension I felt.

No. Bad Dez.

“What can I do? She's here to help Kale."

"Sure she is. And I'm Ke$ha.”

After a few moments of silence, she asked, "Was anyone hurt?"

"Sadly, no," Kale mumbled. He folded his arms and looked toward the door with a sulky expression. "I'll have to try harder next time."

"My heart only beats like this for you. No amount of touching, no other girl, nothing will ever change that."

Thursday, November 29, 2012

The award-winning author of Finnikin of the Rock and Jellicoe Road pens a raw, compelling novel about a family’s hard-won healing on the other side of trauma.

Award-winning author Melina Marchetta reopens the story of the group of friends from her acclaimed novel Saving Francesca - but five years have passed, and now it’s Thomas Mackee who needs saving. After his favorite uncle was blown to bits on his way to work in a foreign city, Tom watched his family implode. He quit school and turned his back on his music and everyone that mattered, including the girl he can’t forget. Shooting for oblivion, he’s hit rock bottom, forced to live with his single, pregnant aunt, work at the Union pub with his former friends, and reckon with his grieving, alcoholic father. Tom’s in no shape to mend what’s broken. But what if no one else is either? An unflinching look at family, forgiveness, and the fierce inner workings of love and friendship, The Piper’s Son redefines what it means to go home again.

My Review:
I was very excited to read this book after loving Saving Francesca (SF) and being very interested in the hidden depths of Thomas Mackee. I loved the glimpses we got of Tom in SF and The Piper's Son took him was beyond what I expected of him. I just wanted to give him a big hug. I was surprised by the amount of stuff going on in this book, the levels of pain and heartache surrounding this family. Thomas' world and the world of his family was rocked with the death of his uncle.

I didn't know when I started the book that we'd have alternating views of Tom and his Aunt Georgie (though not first person dialogue) - but it made a lot of sense to the continuity of the book and really helped round out all that was going on. Both of them are going through their own personal struggles and coping mechanisms, as well as dealing with family things together. The addition of Georgie's perspective takes this book beyond the YA we started with in SF, and to a greater depth that Melina is so good at writing. But I think the alternating perspectives are key and I can't imagine seeing the story in any other light than with both Tom and Georgie.

I loved this broken family and was cheering for them the entire time. I also loved seeing the girls and guys from SF return, along with their loyalties to Tom and to their friendship, even when it was hard. This novel is full of heartache, sorrow, regret, turmoil, mistakes, unforeseen accidents, but also love, understanding, loyalty, redemption, forgiveness, and hope. It was a touching, beautifully written journey. This is yet another book demonstrating why I love Melina Marchetta's writing. If you have not read anything by Melina Marchetta yet, you are missing out.

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Wishlist Wednesday is a book blog hop, hosted by Pen to Paper, where we will post about one book per week that has been on our wishlist for some time, or just added (it's entirely up to you), that we can't wait to get off the wishlist and onto our wonderful shelves. For more info on this meme, go here.

I loved Chasing Nikki by Lacey Weatherford, so now I want to read all her other books. Crush looks really good, so I will hopefully get it soon.

Goodreads Summary:

Cami Wimberley has a plan, and that plan includes no room for boys—especially the big time party animal, Hunter Wilder, no matter how handsome and charismatic he is. She’s beautiful, a senior, extremely talented, gets good grades, and is working her way toward her dream college to be a musical theater major. Everything is perfect.

Hunter Wilder does not want a girlfriend—that would complicate his life way too much right now. He especially doesn’t want this girl, Miss-Goody-Two-Shoes, so how come he can’t keep his eyes off her? He tries to keep her at arms length, but fate seems to keep pushing them together. Before long, it’s obvious to everyone they’re crushing on each other.

As sparks begin to fly, Hunter finds himself sinking deeper and deeper into hot water. Soon he’s scrambling to keep Cami from discovering his dark secret—one that can destroy their entire relationship.

Human robot soldiers and the possibility of feeling more human again...sounds like the makings of a great read to me.

From Goodreads:

Five years ago, Wren Connolly was shot three times in the chest. After 178 minutes she came back as a Reboot: stronger, faster, able to heal, and less emotional. The longer Reboots are dead, the less human they are when they return. Wren 178 is the deadliest Reboot in the Republic of Texas. Now seventeen years old, she serves as a soldier for HARC (Human Advancement and Repopulation Corporation).

Wren’s favorite part of the job is training new Reboots, but her latest newbie is the worst she’s ever seen. As a 22, Callum Reyes is practically human. His reflexes are too slow, he’s always asking questions, and his ever-present smile is freaking her out. Yet there’s something about him she can’t ignore. When Callum refuses to follow an order, Wren is given one last chance to get him in line—or she’ll have to eliminate him. Wren has never disobeyed before and knows if she does, she’ll be eliminated, too. But she has also never felt as alive as she does around Callum.

An undercover mimic trying to stop a serial killer, and still dealing with all the feelings of being a girl...sounds like a winning combination to me. Can't wait.From Goodreads:

CAN TESSA POSE AS MADISON . . . AND STOP A KILLER BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE?

Tessa is a Variant, able to absorb the DNA of anyone she touches and mimic their appearance. Shunned by her family, she’s spent the last two years training with the Forces with Extraordinary Abilities, a secret branch of the FBI.

When a serial killer rocks a small town in Oregon, Tessa is given a mission: she must impersonate Madison, a local teen, to find the killer before he strikes again.

Tessa hates everything about being an impostor—the stress, the danger, the deceit—but loves playing the role of a normal girl. As Madison, she finds friends, romance, and the kind of loving family she’d do anything to keep.

Amid action, suspense, and a ticking clock, this super-human comes to a very human conclusion: even a girl who can look like anyone struggles the most with being herself.

Book blurb:
Julia Phillips’ world is an alternate universe away.
Trapped in a land where government leaders want her dead, Julia is forced to run for her life with Evan
and Reece, the two boys who brought her here. They’re on their own in a hostile landscape ruled by
scavengers and thieves.
But Evan is battling a deadly infection, and Julia finds herself racing against time as she tries to find the
medicine that will save his life. She and Reece find an unlikely ally—Jo, a girl they free after finding
her captured in a bandits’ hideout.
As the four travel across the country, Julia has something else to worry about—her memories are
slowly being replaced by the Julia of Evan and Reece’s world. Will they find a way to send Julia home
before it’s too late? Or will Julia’s body and mind be trapped THERE?

Author bio:
Denise Grover Swank lives in Lee's Summit, Missouri. She writes urban fantasies without
vampires and werewolves. She also writes romantic comedy mysteries set in the south. Denise
has six children, three dogs, and an overactive imagination. She can be found dancing in her
kitchen with her children, reading or writing her next book. You will rarely find her cleaning.

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read

Open to a random page

Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Toxic by Jus Accardo is the second book in the Denazen series. Touch was the first one and I really enjoyed it. I love the character of Kale, his innocence mixed with his lethal abilities. Dez is a tough chick with authority issues, oh and maybe some anger management problems, as you can see...

She might be impervious to harm, but she still might feel pain.

Slamming her face through the furniture might ease some of the tension I felt.

No. Bad Dez.

(from page 46)

Goodreads Summary:

When a Six saved Kale's life the night of Sumrun, she warned there would be consequences. A trade-off. Something taken for the life they gained. But Dez never imagined she'd lose the one thing she'd give anything to keep... And as if it's not enough Dez finds her immunity to Kale fading, the Six brought in to help Kale learn to control his killer touch starts drooling on him the moment they meet. Worse than that? Jade can touch Kale. But bimbo Barbie is the least of Dez's problems.

After Dez and Kale got away at Sumrun, her father lost not only his most powerful weapon but an important piece of the Supremacy project. Forced by Denazen to remedy the situation, he poisons Dez and offers her a choice--surrender to Denazen for the cure...or die. Determined to find a solution that doesn't involve being bagged and tagged--or losing someone she loves--Dez keeps the poison a secret. But when a rash of Denazen attacks hit a little too close to home, Dez is convinced there's a traitor among them. Jade.

Sacrifices, broken promises, and secrets. Dez will have to lay it all on the line if there's any hope of proving Jade's guilt before they all end up Residents of Denazen. Or worse, dead...

Monday, November 26, 2012

One choice can transform you--or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves--and herself--while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.

Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable--and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so.

"New York Times" bestselling author Veronica Roth's much-anticipated second book of the dystopian "Divergent" series is another intoxicating thrill ride of a story, rich with hallmark twists, heartbreaks, romance, and powerful insights about human nature.

My Review:

Wowie wow wow! I love this series. I re-read Divergent, the first book in the trilogy, right before diving into Insurgent, and I was so glad because it helped me stay on top of what previously happened and totally immersed in this world. The action, the suspense, the emotions, the lies and betrayal, the forgiveness, the new revelations...so much is going on in this book.

Tris was completely real in this book as she struggles with the consequences of her actions and the actions of her parents. Yet her lying did frustrate me often, but I was glad to see her character develop even more as the story continued. Of course, Tobias was great yet also struggled with lack of trust. Both of them creating their own walls between each other. I won't say much else, as I'm avoiding spoilers.

In the next book, I definitely want more of their relationship to develop, and I hope they are able to work out their kinks and work together better. But I was satisfied with where they were at in the end. In as much as there was a cliffhanger at the end, it didn't leave me wanting to cry foul. Some authors can just be flat-out cruel with their cliffhangers, but I thought Ms. Roth played her cards well, and I very much look forward to the last book.

SOMETHING DARKER (book one of the Inferii Dii)The one thing Syrus Alcot, the God of Death Osiris in the Egyptian Pantheon, wants in all the worlds is the woman he loved and lost returned to him. When he gave up his powers, and freedom for a life of service he was promised her return. That was over one thousand years ago. A member of a team of dark gods charged with keeping humanity safe, he leads a loveless existence in New York City, searching for the one thing that could bring his wife back to him, a lapis scarab that was lost to him ages before.Gwen Stapleton, a mild mannered librarian, is unaware that she holds the key to not only Syrus’ happiness, but her own. Seemingly stuck in a hopeless relationship with a man she doesn’t love, she has no idea that a chance meeting in Alphabet City will start a landslide to her heart’s content. Because Gwen is the keeper of the scarab, and is everything Syrus has ever wanted… and he's not the only one. An Ancient evil is waking, and its servants will stop at nothing to see it seize its rightful place as the new pantheon of earth. And in order for Syrus and his team to save the world, Gwen is going to have to accept him, and show that love does make all the difference.

To learn more about authors Stella and Audra Price, visit their Website:

On December 18th, SOMETHING DARKER will be available for purchase and to celebrate the release authors S.A. Price are giving away some AMAZING, out of this world prizes! TRUST ME, you DO NOT want to miss out!

What are they giving away?

Are you ready for this?

A registration to Authors After Dark (2013 or 2014 if you are already registered for
2013), a VIP package including VIP early seating and entry badge, and welcome
goodies from the hotel, a gift basket fulla goodies, backlist books, and
Breakfast with Stella and Audra on Tuesday morning.
Awesome right? We thought so.

Saturday, November 24, 2012

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme created by Kristi of The Story Siren, where bloggers share the contents of their mailbox - books bought, borrowed, received - and get to know other blogs.

Stacking The Shelves, hosted by Tynga's Reviews, is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!Okay, so with the whole Black Friday and everyone wanting to put their books on sale all week, my kindle purchases got a little out of control. Alright, a lot out of control. But it's so hard to pass up free or discounted books. I'm sure you can all relate, right? It can't just be me. Now I just need to find the time to read them sooner rather than later.

For Review:Here by Denise Grover SwankUnresisting by Shane MorganFrom NetGalley: